Conway church to present special service today

CONWAY — The First United Methodist Church Chancel Choir will lead a service of Choral Evensong at 5 p.m. today in the sanctuary. The public is invited to this time of music, prayer and meditation.

The service of Choral Evensong is the sung version of a compilation of the two services of “vespers” (the sixth office) and “compline,” written for the 1549 Book of Common Prayer adopted under Bishop Thomas Cranmer. The most unique thing about the service was that it was conducted in English, rather than Latin, making it more accessible to the people. The service has remained unchanged in content since slight modifications were made in the version of 1662.

According to long-standing tradition, Evensong is mostly sung by a choir, with the full congregation participating throughout in thoughtful prayer, joining in the singing of hymns and in spoken parts of the liturgy. As a part of the daily office, it was intended to be part of a regular discipline of worship and is still celebrated daily in many Anglican and Episcopal congregations all over the world, and on selected occasions in many more congregations.

The service, which lasts about 45 minutes, begins with a choral introit and sung responses of invitation. Scripture lessons are from a prescribed lectionary, including a psalm and readings from the Old and New Testaments. The liturgy always includes the Canticles of Mary (the Magnificat) and Simeon (the Nunc Dimittis). The service concludes with prescribed prayers and collects, followed by an anthem appropriate for the day or liturgical season.

“When you come to Evensong here, it is as if you were dropping in on a conversation already in progress — a conversation between God and people, which began long before you were born and will go on long after you are gone,” said Janet Gingerich, director of music and worship ministries at Conway First United Methodist.

There is no sermon during Evensong, and the congregation will join in the singing of the hymns, the Apostle’s Creed and the Lord’s Prayer. In Choral Evensong, the choir sings on “behalf of ” the congregation, which allows the congregation time to meditate and enter into deeper prayer through words and music.

The Service of Choral Evensong is free and open to the public. The church is at 1610 Prince St. in Conway. For more information, call the church office at (501) 329-3801 or visit